U.S. patent application number 14/200163 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-10 for two-stage cargo floor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joel P. Craven, Liliana Neag, Clyde W. Ney, JR.. Invention is credited to Joel P. Craven, Liliana Neag, Clyde W. Ney, JR..
Application Number | 20150251712 14/200163 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52814183 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150251712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Craven; Joel P. ; et
al. |
September 10, 2015 |
TWO-STAGE CARGO FLOOR
Abstract
A storage receptacle integrated into the floor of a vehicle. The
storage receptacle includes a housing. The housing includes a
collar, a lower surface, and a plurality of side surfaces extending
between the collar and the lower surface. The side surfaces each
define an upper surface and an intermediate surface that extend
continuously around an inner periphery of the housing and are
oriented substantially parallel with the collar and the lower
surface. A lid is configured to rest on the upper surface in a
first storage position when the lid has a first orientation, and is
configured to rest on the intermediate surface in a second storage
position when the lid has a second orientation, wherein the second
orientation is rotated 90 degrees relative to the first
orientation.
Inventors: |
Craven; Joel P.; (Ann Arbor,
MI) ; Ney, JR.; Clyde W.; (Lake Orion, MI) ;
Neag; Liliana; (Commerce Township, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Craven; Joel P.
Ney, JR.; Clyde W.
Neag; Liliana |
Ann Arbor
Lake Orion
Commerce Township |
MI
MI
MI |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52814183 |
Appl. No.: |
14/200163 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/37.2 ;
296/37.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/20 20130101;
B60R 7/04 20130101; B60R 5/04 20130101; B62D 43/06 20130101; B60R
13/013 20130101; B60N 3/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62D 43/06 20060101
B62D043/06; B60R 7/04 20060101 B60R007/04 |
Claims
1. A storage receptacle integrated into the floor of a vehicle,
comprising: a housing, the housing including a collar, a lower
surface, and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the
collar and the lower surface, the side surfaces each defining an
upper surface and an intermediate surface that extend around an
inner periphery of the housing and are oriented substantially
parallel with the collar and the lower surface; and a lid, the lid
configured to rest on the upper surface in a first storage position
when the lid has a first orientation, and configured to rest on the
intermediate surface in a second storage position when the lid has
a second orientation, the second orientation being rotated 90
degrees relative to the first orientation.
2. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lid includes at
least one hinge element.
3. The storage receptacle of claim 2, wherein the at least one
hinge element is configured to mate with a recess formed in the
collar in the first storage position.
4. The storage receptacle of claim 3, wherein the lid is pivotable
relative to the collar.
5. The storage receptacle of claim 2, wherein the upper surface
includes at least one depression formed therein, and the at least
one hinge element is configured to mate with the at least one
depression in the second storage position.
6. The storage receptacle of claim 5, wherein the depression
includes a first width at the upper surface and a second width at
the intermediate surface, the second width being less than the
first width.
7. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein the collar is
substantially co-planar with the floor, and the lid in the first
storage position is substantially co-planar with the floor.
8. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a
handle.
9. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein the housing and the
lid are each injection molded from polymeric materials.
10. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein the storage
receptacle is configured to provide access to a spare tire.
11. The storage receptacle of claim 1, wherein when the lid is in
the second storage position, the lid is positioned in a recessed
position relative to the floor.
12. A storage receptacle integrated into a floor of a vehicle for a
spare tire, comprising: a housing, the housing including a collar,
a lower surface configured to support the spare tire, and a
plurality of side surfaces extending between the collar and the
lower surface, the side surfaces each defining an upper surface and
an intermediate surface that extend around an inner periphery of
the housing and are oriented substantially parallel with the collar
and the lower surface; and a lid, the lid configured to rest on the
upper surface in a first storage position when the lid has a first
orientation, and configured to rest on the intermediate surface in
a second storage position when the lid has a second orientation,
the second orientation being rotated 90 degrees relative to the
first orientation, wherein the collar is substantially co-planar
with the floor, and the lid in the first storage position is
substantially co-planar with the floor; and wherein when the lid is
in the second storage position, the lid is positioned in a recessed
position relative to the floor.
13. The storage receptacle of claim 12, wherein the lid includes at
least one hinge element.
14. The storage receptacle of claim 13, wherein the at least one
hinge element is configured to mate with a recess formed in the
collar in the first storage position.
15. The storage receptacle of claim 14, wherein the lid is
pivotable relative to the collar.
16. The storage receptacle of claim 13, wherein the upper surface
includes at least one depression formed therein, and the at least
one hinge element is configured to mate with the at least one
depression in the second storage position.
17. The storage receptacle of claim 16, wherein the depression
includes a first width at the upper surface and a second width at
the intermediate surface, the second width being less than the
first width.
18. The storage receptacle of claim 12, wherein the lid includes a
handle.
19. The storage receptacle of claim 12, wherein the housing and the
lid are each injection molded from polymeric materials.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle including a
cargo area that is configured to operate in two stages.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This section provides background information related to the
present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
[0003] With ever increasing pressure from automotive consumers,
flexibility and adaptability of vehicle interiors is increasingly
required in order to provide a vehicle adapted to meet the broad
customer demand. Further, with increased social awareness of a
vehicle's impact on the environment, there is an increasing demand
to minimize the overall mass of vehicle while still meeting the
feature requirements of the consumer. By reducing the mass of the
interior components of the vehicle, several goals can be achieved.
Among these goals is the overall weight of the vehicle, which can
be minimized to thereby reduce the power and fuel required to
operate the vehicle.
[0004] The reductions of the size of the interior components of
vehicles have led to a need for more efficient use of interior
space. Various types of storage containers for the interior of the
vehicle have been proposed to handle this ever increasing need.
Sport utility vehicles, as well as mini-vans, carry an increasing
number of occupants. The increase in occupants raises the needed to
efficiently provide a storage space in a vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure,
and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of
its features.
[0006] The present disclosure provides a storage receptacle
integrated into the floor of a vehicle. The storage receptacle
includes a housing. The housing includes a collar, a lower surface,
and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the collar and
the lower surface. The side surfaces each define an upper surface
and an intermediate surface that extend continuously around an
inner periphery of the housing and are oriented substantially
parallel with the collar and the lower surface. A lid is configured
to rest on the upper surface in a first storage position when the
lid has a first orientation, and is configured to rest on the
intermediate surface in a second storage position when the lid has
a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is rotated 90
degrees relative to the first orientation.
[0007] The present disclosure also provides a storage receptacle
integrated into a floor of a vehicle for a spare tire. The storage
receptacle includes a housing. The housing includes a collar, a
lower surface configured to support the spare tire, and a plurality
of side surfaces extending between the collar and the lower
surface. The side surfaces each define an upper surface and an
intermediate surface that extend continuously around an inner
periphery of the housing and are oriented substantially parallel
with the collar and the lower surface. A lid is configured to rest
on the upper surface in a first storage position when the lid has a
first orientation, and configured to rest on the intermediate
surface in a second storage position when the lid has a second
orientation, wherein the second orientation is rotated 90 degrees
relative to the first orientation. The collar is substantially
co-planar with the floor, and the lid in the first storage position
is substantially co-planar with the floor. When the lid is in the
second storage position, the lid is positioned in a recessed
position relative to the floor.
[0008] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. The description and specific examples
in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0009] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a storage receptacle
according to a principle of the present disclosure that is
integrated into the rear cargo storage area of a vehicle;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the storage
receptacle of FIG. 1, with a lid in a first storage position;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the storage receptacle
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the storage
receptacle of FIG. 1, with a lid in a second storage position;
and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage receptacle
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0015] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a storage receptacle 10 for a
vehicle 12 is illustrated. Storage receptacle 10 is illustrated as
being positioned behind a second row seat 14, but may be located at
any position in the vehicle 12. Storage receptacle 10 includes a
tub-shaped housing 16, which is preferably integrated into the
floor 18 of vehicle 12. A quarter panel trim 19 and rear scruff
trim 21 peripherally surround storage receptacle 10. Housing 16 is
formed from a polymeric material or a metal material, as is known
in the art. Preferably, housing 16 is injection molded from a
polymeric material such that housing 16 is a monolithic member.
[0018] Housing 16 includes an upper collar 20 that extends about a
periphery 22 of housing 16 substantially co-planar with floor 18.
That is, a first portion 21 of collar 20 extends substantially
co-planar with floor 18, and a second portion 23 of collar 20
extends orthogonal to the first portion 21 (FIG. 3). Second portion
23 mates with floor 18 by rivets (not shown), or any other
attachment device known to one skilled in the art. A lower surface
24 of housing 16 that is oriented substantially parallel with
collar 20 defines a bottom 24 of storage receptacle 10. It should
be understood, however, that lower surface 24 is not required to be
oriented substantially a parallel with collar 20. In contrast,
lower surface 22 can be sloped or contoured as desired.
[0019] A plurality of side surfaces 26 extend between collar 20 and
lower surface 22. Side surfaces 26 include a first side surface 28,
a second side surface 30, a third side surface 32, and a fourth
side surface 34. First and third side surfaces 28 and 32 extend
parallel with each other and each include a first length L1. Second
and fourth side surfaces 30 and 34 extend parallel with each other
and each include a second length L2. As illustrated L2 is less than
L1. It should be understood, however, that L1 may be less than L2,
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Each
side surface 26 includes a height H1.
[0020] Side surfaces 26 each include an upper surface 36 and an
intermediate surface 38 integrated therein. Upper surface 36 is
positioned at a height H2 relative to lower surface 24.
Intermediate surface 38 is positioned at a height H3 relative to
lower surface 24. As illustrated, H2 is greater than H3. Upper
surface 36 and intermediate surface 38 may each be integrated into
each side surface 26. Upper surface 36 extends continuously about
second, third and fourth side surfaces 30, 32, and 34. Intermediate
surfaces 38 continuously extends about an entire inner periphery 39
of housing 16. Upper and intermediate surfaces 36 and 38 are
oriented substantially parallel with collar 20 and lower surface
22, and each provide an abutment surface for a lid 40 to rest on,
as will be described in more detail below.
[0021] According to the present disclosure, lid 40 is operatively
configured to enclose storage receptacle 10 in two positions. In a
first storage position, lid 40 is operatively configured to rest on
upper surface 36. In the first storage position, storage receptacle
10 is closed and a substantially planar surface is formed by lid 40
and floor 18 (FIG. 2). In other words, a flat load floor is created
by lid 40 and floor 18. Moreover, if seats 14 are in a folded
position (shown in phantom in FIG. 1), floor 18, lid 40, and seats
40 form a substantially planar load floor surface. In a second
storage position, lid 40 is operatively configured to rest on
intermediate surface 36 such that storage receptacle has a volume V
(FIG. 5), which allows for larger cargo items such as luggage and
the like to be more easily stored in vehicle 12. In the second
storage position, a user may store items in storage receptacle 10
to increase functionality of vehicle 12. Lid 40 includes a first
width W1 and a second width W2. First width W1 is substantially
equal to L1 such that lid 40 rests on upper surface 36 in the first
storage position. Second width W2 of lid 40 is substantially equal
to L2 such that lid 40 rests on intermediate surface 38 in the
second storage position.
[0022] Similar to housing 16, lid 40 may be injection molded from a
polymeric material such that lid 40 is a monolithic member. It
should be understood, however, that lid 40 can be formed of any
material known to one skilled in the art. Lid 40 includes an upper
major surface 42 and a lower major surface 44. Upper major surface
42 can define a recess 46 that is operable as a pull pocket or
handle, which allows a user to grasp and move lid 40 between an
open and closed position, or to lift, rotate, and move lid 40 from
the first storage position to the second storage position.
[0023] To allow lid 40 to be moved between an open position and a
closed position (see, e.g., FIG. 3), lid 40 includes a pair of
hinge elements 48 projecting from a side 50 thereof. Hinge elements
48 are preferably unitary with lid 40, but may be separately formed
and subsequently fixed to lid 40. Regardless, hinge elements 48
include a pair of nubs (not shown) on opposing sides thereof that
engage with a slot (not shown) formed in a pair of recesses 52
formed in collar 20 that allow side 50 of lid 40 to be hingedly
coupled to collar 20. Accordingly, when lid 40 is in the first
storage position (FIG. 2), a flat surface co-planar with floor 18
is provided. Alternatively, if access to housing 16 is desired, lid
40 is rotatable to allow access to an interior of storage
receptacle 10.
[0024] To switch between the first storage position (FIG. 2) and
the second storage position (FIG. 4), lid 40 is lifted and hinge
elements 48 are disengaged from recesses 52. Lid 50 is then rotated
ninety degrees and placed upon intermediate surface 38. In this
manner, lid 40 does not need to be removed from vehicle 12 to
increase the cargo volume of vehicle 12. Rather, lid 40 is
configured to be simply rotated and replaced into receptacle 10. To
account for hinge elements 48 extending outward from side 50, upper
surface 36 includes a pair of depressions 54 formed therein.
Depressions 54 are illustrated as being wider at upper surface 36
in comparison to a width at intermediate surface 38, which allows
an operator to more easily align hinge elements 48 with depressions
54, It should be understood, however, that a width of depressions
54 can be substantially equal along an entire length thereof.
Although depressions 54 are illustrated as being formed on fourth
side surface 34, it should be understood that upper surface 36
formed along second side surface 30 can include depressions 54 as
well. As best shown in FIG. 5, when lid 40 rests on intermediate
surface 38, access to an interior of storage receptacle 10 is
unobstructed, which increases the storage capacity of vehicle
12.
[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, storage receptacle 10 is
configured to carry a spare tire 56. In this regard, spare tire 56
rests on bottom surface 24 and is hidden from view by lid 40,
whether lid 40 is in the first storage position at upper surface 36
or in the second storage position at intermediate surface 38. To
secure tire 56 to bottom surface 24, a tie down bolt or screw 58
may extend upward from bottom surface 24. Storing tire 56 within
vehicle 12 increases the ease with which tire 56 is accessed in
comparison to when tire 56 is stored beneath vehicle 12. Further,
due to lid 40 being configured to enclose storage receptacle 10 in
multiple storage positions, the functionality of storage receptacle
10 for spare tire 56 is increased.
[0026] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been
provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual
elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not
limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if
not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in
many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be
included within the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *